Taos Winter Street Outreach Program
If you wish to donate or purchase winter wear, tents, sleeping bags, bottled water, protein bars etc please call our Resource Center at 575-776-4245 and we can tell you what is needed.
OVERVIEW of The HEART of Taos Winter Street Outreach Program
Primary Mission of HEART of Taos
HEART of Taos provides programs, services and transitional housing to Taos women (and their children and pets) who experience homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness (eviction prevention).
Our goal is to provide comprehensive support to re-stabilize lives, emotionally/mentally recover from the trauma of homelessness, and make homelessness rare, short-lived and non-recurring for the individuals we serve.
Winter Street Outreach Program for Men and Women
During the winter, where it can become life-threatening to live outdoors, HEART of Taos expands who we serve through our Street Outreach Program to men and women living on the street. This service is made possibly thanks to HEART of Taos Community donors and TeamHEART members, county funding for the indigent, community-donated items, and volunteer assistance.
This program is led by a HEART of Taos staff person, our Street Outreach Counselor. Volunteers interested in participating in the Street Outreach Program may apply at the HEART Resource Center at 204 Paseo del Pueblo Norte, Suite C (north end of Coldwell Banker building across from Kit Carson Park).
What is Street Outreach? The HEART of Taos Street Outreach Program engages 3 components of service:
- Distribution of supplies — for winter street survival and basic needs
- Sharing of Information — about resources, agencies, accessing benefits, and shelter
- Building relationships — to ultimately compel individuals to access community resources, re-engage with the community, and secure safe winter shelter.
People homeless and living on the street, in their cars or in uninhabitable dwellings have disengaged from community, lost hope and trust, and are not accessing services through the traditional system.
Our Street Outreach Counselor(s) bridge the gap, meet individuals where they are, and help provide the support they need to survive and move forward in their lives.